Automatic gear-shifting device



my. t9, 1 92s. .f 1,535,381?

H. C. DOOLlN INVEN-rore wrrNssEs Md/www BY vf', K l I v A l I Y a t l xl t ATTORNEY I Maj; 19, 1925. 1,538,387 v H.. c. DoQLlN AUTOMATIC GEARSHFTING DEVICE e shetsheet 2,

if Cfao'iu MENOR,

l A'rroRNcw May 19, 1925.

H. C. DOOLIN AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTING DEVICE lFiled Sept. 7, 1921 6Sheets-Sheet :3

H. ZZ, INVENTGR,

ATTORNEY my 19, 1925.v 1,535,387

H.l C. DOOLIN AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTING DEVICE FilQd'Sept. '7, 1921www/wml May 19, 1925.

wg'rNEsSEs ATToRNEY To all whom z5 mary concern:

`along the line lil-10 of Fig. 9.

Patented May 19, 1925, y

UNITED Vs'rars Hmm @Lieren mornin,

oi? ALBANY, Missionar.

AUTMAJIC GEAILSHIFTING DEWCE.

Application hier! September 7, 1921. Serial No. 499,018.

Be it known that l. Hina-M C. Doomna citizen of the United States7residing at Albany, in the county off Gentry and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and use- -ful Automatic GeanShifting Device, of

which the following is a specification.

This linvention relate-sto a gear shifting l device, and is more'particularly directed to a mechanism for shifting the gears ofautomobiles bymeans of a lever on the steering wheel.

An object of the invention `is to provide a new and improved mechanismfor shifting gears, which is connected to the clutch-operating means,which is automatic in charac'- ter, and 'which may be manually operated`by a lever located on the steering Wheel. y

The inventionwill be best understood" from a consideration of thefollowing'de tailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification, withmenuda-standing, howeveigthai the invention is not confined to anystrict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changedand modified so long as such changes and 1nodifica tions niark nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

ln the drawings l is a fragmentary plan view of an engine and itstransmission showing my improved operating mechanism connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the saine.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of my improved operating mechanism ofthe gear changing device.

Fig. 4 is a cross seetioimlview taken "along the lined-4f oi Fig. 3.

Fig. is a longitudinal section taken along the line of Fig. 3.

Fig. (i is a cross section along the line (in-(i of Fig. 3.V

Fig. 7 is a fragn'ientary end vieiw in de. tail disclosing the positionof vthe operating levers shown in Fig. i, when the gears are Fig. S isan end View of the same disclos ing the position of the operatingllevers as' the gears are changed to neutral position.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modification of my gear changing device. l

l fi Fig. 10 1s a .longitudiual'view ni section Fig. 11 is a transverseView taken along the line ll-ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. i2 isa fragmentary side view of the traction disclosed in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a view in pers ectiveof the shaft upon which the` gearvsiiithig levers are mounted.

Figs. le and 15 areviews in perspective of the shifting levers mountedupon sleeves.

Fig. 16 is an end view o the gear shifting device applied to anautomobile.

Fig. l? is a perspective of 'the steering wheel.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section of the upper end'of the steering post andselective'lever ior setting the mechanism to shift the gears.

Fig. 19 is a view in detail, the upper end of one of the operating rodslocated inthe steering column.

Fig. 20 is a detail view o the position of the gear shifting levers whenthe gears are in high and the clutch is released.

Fig. 2l is a det-ail view of the position of the gear shifting leverswhen the gears are in high and the clutch is in.

yReferring to the drawing, 1. designates the side members of the frameof an automobile and between which is mounted an engine 2 having arearwardly located-clutch casing 3 and a gear casing 4. -i bracket 5mounted upon a side member l carries the steering post 6l elutch pedal 7is rigidly secured to a clutch shaft 8 which extends through bearings inthe clutch casing 3. T he clutch shaft 8 is provided with a squaredextension projecting outwardly from the opposite side of the clutchcasing il and is mounted in bearings located in an extension 10 of theclutch casing 3, and at its outer free end in bearings 1l secured to theside member l. A countershaft 12 is likewise moiuited n bearings in theextension l() ol' the casing at one end, and at its opposite end in thebear ing` ll secured to the irame l.. A flanged4 collar ld",V slidablymounted on the shafts 9 andi?J and operated Jrhrough a yoke 13 and a rod14, which is connected to an operating lever on the steering post forshifting the collar 13, is provided with thelintegrally formed sleeve 15having the downwardlyextending lever 1G, the sleeve 15 being slid` .ablymounted on the squared shaft 9 willig the yoke 13. lAnother sleeve i7,provided with out@ l wardlyextending lingers or releasinor levers 18,i9, 20, 2li is integrally connecte to the,

collar 13a and likewise slidably mounted. upon the shaft 12. lt will benoted-that be cause of the integral inountinj of the sleeves with thecollar 123 they will be shitf ed on theil` respective shafts at the.saine time and through the saine distance. The two outer end releasinglevers 1S and 19 are spaced from each other, as are the levers and 21,but the levers 19 and 20 are provided with a greater space between themthan any other pairs of levers. The lever 16 is located adjacent andbelow this wider or neutral space. between the levers 19 and 20, andwhen the clutch pedal 7 is depressed, the lever 1G will ride upwardlyand partially pass between the levers-19 and 20 when all the gears arein neutral.

Upon the outer end or the squared shaft -9 is securely mounted a cani 22adapted to be in constant engagement with a finger 23 which is operatedby the cani. A spring 2e upon the inner end of the Shaft 12 tends torotate the shaft and constantly urge the nger 23 toward the canir 22 andthereby hold V,the lever and cani-in engagement at all times so thatwhen the shaft 9 is rotated the carri will force finger 23 outwardly andr0- tate the shalt 12. I

Spaced from the shaft 12 and in parallel relation thereto is a shaft 25provided with rotatably and concentricall'f mounted sleeves 26, 27, 28,29; each having respectivey an outsanding lever orv :linger 30, 31, 32,yrespectively, spaced from each other and l which extend towards theshatl2, the free ends of the levers being spaced below4 the free ends ofthe levers 18, 12, 2Q, 21, when the clutch has been thrown in and allthe gears are in neutral as is shown in Fig. 3. Levers 31 and 32, likelevers 19 and 2l), have n. greater space between them thanany otherpairs of the levers. The width of the space between levers 31 and 32 isequal to the width of the space between levers 19 2G. Upon the oppositeendsrof said sleeves are mounted collars provided with integrally formedopstanding levers. The sleeve-26 is provided with the collar 3f-l andthe inte-v `emily formed lever 35, the lever 35 being pivotallyconnected at its upper free end to a rod 36. the rod in turn beine`pivotallv connected at its other end at 3l, Vto a shitting lever 38mounted upon a sleeve The sleeve entends within the fije-ar casing /l-(l'and is adapted to operate. one ot a ot Shifters for moving thereversing gear into mesh with a gear on Ithe drive shalt of the engine,and thereby controlling the speed of the automobile. Extendingdownwardly from the sleeve 39 is a lever l1 which is in alinenient withthe lever 38 having the link ll2 pivotally connectez. at one end to theouter free end of the lever Ll-1, the other end of the rod or linkY'using' pivotally connected ta an upstanding ler/er e3 integrally mountLeanser ed. upon the collar Jl which is secured to one end of the sleeve27 and operated by the lever 31. f

The sleeve 2&4, at one end, is also provided with a collar l5 having anupstanding lever 46 integrally secured thereto and opposite to theintegrally formed lever 32. Upon the outer, free end of the lever Ll-Gis pivotally mounted one end of a link el?, the other end ol the linkbeing` pivoted at i8 to the outer vtree end or' an opstandingl lever t9which is integrally inountedupon a sleeve 50. rllhe lever 5l is formedintegrally with and projects downwardly from the sleeve. 50, and invertical alinement with the lever 49, the outer free end oi the lever 51being' pivotally connected at 52 to one end ot' i link 53. the

other end oit' the linlr beine,` pivot/ed at to an upstanding lever 55integrally Jformed with a collar 56 secured to one end of the sleeve 29and operated by the lever through said sleeve.

The sleeve 50 is mount-ed upon the shaft 57 and concentric within thesleeve 39, and is adapted to operate a shifter located within the gearcasing v0 for controlling the shifting of the high speed gear throughthe lever 51. linlr 53, lever .'35, and the lingerv 33 when the saine.is elevated by the clutch shaft lever 1G. llach one of the levers 30,31. 32, 3, respectivelyv is operated by the lever 16 which is sldablymounted upon the extension 9 of the clutch shaft when the clutch isreleased and the clutch pedal is depressed.

lt'will be found tlnit there will be times when the relefising levers18, 19, 20, 21. will fail utterly to return the levers 30, 31, 82, 33,to their normal neutral position due to the fact that the operator o'fthe car has failed to re-set the levers 1li, 18, 19, 2O and 21. beforehe has stopped his machine and it is therefore necessary to employ anauxiliary releasiruel means tov return any one of the' levers 30., 31,32, 33, which are elerated above their normal neutral positi A squareshalt is rotatably mounted in parallel relation with the shaft- 25. Slidably mounted upon the shaft. 58 is an auxiliury releasing,` lever 5S)which is adapted to be moved along the shalt by means or ay rod 60 beingsecured 'to the arm 61. which is loosely mounted upon one end oit thesleeve 62. said sleeve being formed integrally with the lever 59 andhaving;- the, squared opening through which the shaft 58 is inserted.

Rod GO and rod 14 are located in parallel relation and connected by thelinlr so that these rods are shifted simultaneously and 'likewise theshafts respectively connected to said rods. Therefore, lever 59 being'in the saine plane with lever 16 but at a higher level than seid lever,lever 59 will be posi-v tioned above that one of the lingers 30, 31,

32 or 33, which happens to be directly overk lever 16. ySince levers 59and 16 are located in the same vertical plane, they will be in alinementwith lthe neutral space N.

The rod 14 is shifted transversely of the transmission casing by meansofI a lever 64 rotatably mounted, on the steering wheel 65 and rigidlysecured to a rod 66 which is concentrically located within the `steeringpost 67* of the automobile. The outer end' of the rod 66 projectsoutwardly from the lower end of the steering postand has sei curedthereon alever 67, the outer free end casin.

rant 4 of which is pivotally engaged by a link 68,

-the linlr extending rearwardly of the automobile and connected at 69 tothe outer free end of' an arm of a hell crank lever.704

which is pivoted at 7l upn a bracket@ secured to the side trame 1 of theautomobile. The outer free end of the'other arm of the bell crank lever70 is ivotally .connected, lit/73,' toplinei rod 14 which extendsthrough the clutch, casing 3 and is secured to the ie lever 64 operatesupon aquadhaving certain indicia upon which the lever travels toselectively position 'the arm of the lever 15 beneath any one of thelevers 30,31, 32 or 33, and whichare desig nated' lcy the letters H, I,L 'and R, to correspond with the different speeds indicated on thequadrant by1 the same letters, i. e.,

high, intermediate, low and reverse.

Depending downwardly from the shaft 58 is an arm 75, to the outer freeend of which is secured a spring 76, the other endof the spring; beingsecured to some portion of the framework of the automobile, so that saidspring will always be under tension and 'tend to draw `the arm 75rearwardly and canse the disk 77, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft58 to be rotated in the direction indicated by, the arrowy in Fig. 3 andforce the arm 59 down into engagement with. any one of the' lingers 30,31, 32, 33, when the latch 78 is released from its engagement with anotcb'79 on the disk 77 through a rod 80 which has a loose con*v nectionwith the -lower end 81 of the latch 78, said latch being pivotallymounted upon a rod 82 which is supported upon the framework of theautomobile..

-The lower end 81 of the latch 78 isbrovided with a perforation throughwhich is inserted therod 80. Un the outer end or the rod 8O is formed anenlargement 83 which is engaged by the end 81 of the latch 78, when therod 86 is reciprocated in the .direction indicated by the arrow in Fig.3.

A spring; 84 maiptains the latch in 'engage mentwith the disk 7'1". -ltwillbe seen by without alecting the said latch, but when moved inopposite direction indicated by the and permitthe shaft 58 to berotatedby `the .pull of the spring 76, as was previously described. The otherend of the rod is connected to a lever 85 secured'at the lower end ofthe concentrically mounted sleeve 86 within the steering post 67, ltwill be seen that as the lever 64 is rotated, the rod 66 and likewisethe sleeve 86 'will be rotated 'simultaneously, the rotation of the rod66- .lacing adapted to shift the sleeves l5' and l? while the rotationof the sleeve will not operate the latch until tl'ie lever 64 has passedbeyond the reverse lposition indicated on the quadrant 74 oit thesteering wheel lby reason of the distance normally existing between theenlargement 83 and the end 81 of the latch 78.' lf the rod. 66 and thesleeve 86 were always rotated simultaneously, it will be seen that thelever 16, which. is the oper yating means for the gear shifting levers30, 31, 32 and 33., conldnot be maintained in its proper position fortrip ing one or" the gear shifting levers. There ore, means are enrployed whereby the rod 66 may be. disconnected from the operatingA lever.64 so that only the sleeve 86 may he rotated totrip the latch 78. e,

A Referring to Fig. 16, therod 66 is pron vided with a shoulder 8'?which" rests upon the upper end of the sleeveti and prevents the rod 66from falling within the sleeve 86, when the disengaging' rod S8 is movedrearwardly by means of the pivctedthumlo lever 89 which has a looseconnection et 90 with the outer en d or the rod 88, the inner end of therod engagingf an opening or perforation 61 in the upper end of the rod66. The collar 92. formed within the hollow lever 64, provides anabutment forthe s ring 93, the other end. of which engages *te collar 94upon the disengaging,y rod 88, so that the spring," 93 will always tendtdoroe the rod 85% inwardly and into the opening; 91 of the rod 66.

ico

l lThen the thumb lever 89 is pressed downhaving connection` with therod 14 through the bell crank lever 70.

Referring to Fig. 3? the lever 59, ashes been stated above, is adaptedto' engage any one of the levers 30,31, |32, 86, and :torce itdownwardly when the latch 78 is disengaged from thenotclif of the disk7l* since the pull ofthe spring 76 will rotate the shaft 58. When theshaft 66 has been rotated a certain distance, the. lever 59 is returnedto its normal position in the following inen- The. lever 59 is shiftedsimultaneously' with the lever 16 through the seme distance that thelever 16 is shifted; therefore the lever 59 will always be placed aboveone oi' the levers 30, 31,32, 33, under which the lever 16 has beenlocated. lll hen the clutch pedal is depressedand the clutch released,the lever 16 will be elevated and force one of the levers 30, 3l, 32 or33, which is alined with the levers 16 and 59, upwardly, causing thelever 59 to be elevated suiliciently to rotete the shalt 58 and the dish77 so that the latch 7S will again engage the notch 79 and loch theshaft 5S in springpressed position. The latch i8 is always releasedafter the thumb lever 8S has been depressed to disconnect the rod 68troni the shalt 66 in the steering,` post, and the lever has been movedover to Re, the releasing position indicate-d on the quadrant T4, orjust beyond l, the position of the lever 6l for reversing the gears.place in position, the rod been operated to its fullest extent, rockingthe latch T8 and theiehy disconnecting the latch 'TS from the notch, 79or dish T7, and permitting the shaft 5S to rotate to depress the lever59. Since the locking rod 88 has been disconnected from the shaft 66, itwill be seen that the shalt 66 will remain idle when the sleeve 86 isrotated hy the lever 6st, so that the position of the lever 16,releasing levers 18, 19, 20, 21, and the aux` iliary releasing; lever59, will not he disturhed in'tlieir relative position along theirrespective shells, but the lever 59 will be depressed since the rotationof the sleeve 86 will operate the rod SO and trip the latch "f6, causing'the shalt- 58 to be rotated hy the spring 1'6. The lever 59 wil 'thenengage and depress any one of the levers 30, 31, 32 or over which. thelever el) has heen placed to position that lever in neutral; that is, insuch position that either one of the levers 38 or e9 which'happen to beout of the vertical, will 'oe returned to their normal vertical positionand thereby shift the gears in the box or easing to neutral osltion.

Hillhe operation of the device illustrated hy t in and Figs. 16 to 19,

inclusive, is as rollovvsz- .in 17, the lever 641, which is adapted toselect certein por'ions of the mechanism for shifting the various gearsis located von that portieri of the quadrant 'il of the steering wheelmarked Neutral "In this position, the lever 16 has been moved along theshaft S) together with the releasing levers 18, 19, 2O and 21, on 'theshalt 12, order that the lever 16 will be positioned et a 'point beneaththe space between the levers 31 and lllfhen the lever @il has been 530will haveV 32 marked l or neutral. Since the clutch pedal operates theshaft 9, the, free end of the lever 16 will be elevated when the clutchpedal 'T is depressed, but before it reaches its limit o1 movement, thecam 22 on 'the shaft 9 will have been rotated, forcing the linger 23outwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3', so that asthe finger 23 is forced away from the shaft 9, the leveis 18, 19, 20, 21will be depressed and just barely touch the end of the'levers 30, 31,32, 33, when said levers are in neutral position and in which positionthey are located as illustrated in Fig. 3. lVhen the cam 22 has forcedthe linger 23 outwardly to its limit of movement, any further depression of the clutch pedal 7 will have no effect upon the levers 1S,19, 20, 21, because of the shape of the face 22a of the cam 22, as thefinger 23 will' ride upon tthe other inclined surface 22, but acontinued depression of the clutch pedal 7 toits limit of movementcauses the end of the lever 16 to he elevated upwardly into theneutralspace marked N in Fig. 3, between the pair of gear shiftinglevers 31 and 32, and the releasing levers 19 and V20. ln this instance,no gears are' shifted since none of the 'levers 30, 31, 32, 33, areoperated. l

t will be seen that as long as the lever 64 is placed upon neutral onthe quadrant F4, the loot clutch may be depressed und the leverl will beoscillated 4between the levers 31 and 32 and the levers 19 vand 20,without affecting the gears in the 'gear box.

Suppose the lever 64 to be moved to L on the quadrant 74, whichindicates low gear. the lever 16 and the levers 18, 19,' 20. 21 will beshifted alongr their respective shafts until the lever 16 will falldirectly belew'the lever 31. which lever when elevated will cause thegears in the gear box 40 to heshited in such a manner that While theengins is running' fast the car will travel slowly. Since the lever 16is located directly beneath the lever 31 and thelever 1G is alwaysopposite the space designated N between the levers 19 end 20, the spaceN will he placed just above the .lever 31 and when the clutch pedal 7 isdepressed, the arm 16 will be elevated while the levers 18, 19, 20, 21,will be depressed by reason oi the cam 22 operatingthe lever 23 in thedirection indicated by the arrow, but since these levers 18, 19, 20, 21never descend lower than to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.7, where the levers 30, 31, 32. 33 are placed in neutral, they willforce any one of the levers 30, 31, 32, 33 that happen to he elevated,downwardly to neutre] position; hut since these levers have beennormally in neutral position, therewill be none to be depressed by thereleasing levers 18,' 19, 20, 2l. As the clutch pedal 7' is stillfurther depressed, the arm 16 will be positioned just below and inengaging position with the :su Y

Losses? `23 rides on the cam surface 22a, but the lever 16 .is raised,elevatin the space designated .T between the releasing the le.'er 31through levers 19 and 20.

Since the arm 31 is integrally connected with the sleeve 27, and thesleeve 27 has cone nected with it the upstanding lever 43, the lever 43will he moved to *the left of Fig. 3, when the lever 31 is elevated, sothat the rod 42. will be moved in the same direction as will the leverl1 which is connected `to the sleeve 39. The lever V38 being rigidlyconnected to the same sleeve, will he moved iiiwardly towards the rightas will likewise he the connecting rod 36 and the lever 35. The. leverbeing connected to the sleeve 2G and being7 operated towards the right,will l canse the gear-changing lever 30 to he depressed through an anglewhich is equal to the angle of elevation of the lever 31.

The rotation of the sleeve 39 causes a reciprocation of a shifter lwhichcarries a yoke is thrown in s o that the lever 1.6'will he returned toits normal position shown in Fig. 3, as will the levers 18, 19, 20, 21,.the neutral space N between levers 19 and 2,0 being .slightly above theend of the lever 31. It

will be readilyseen that as long as the levers 18. 19, 20, 21 arelocated slightly alcove the elevated lever 31. that'the releasing"levers 13.'

19,20, 21 and the lever 16 may be shifted along their respective shaftsandnot be in terfered with in this sliding,I movement by the lever 31which is elevated above :the plane passing through the clutch is in.

if it loe desired to shift the gears to what is commonly ltnoivn as thesecond speed or intermediate gear. the lever 3l ci the steerwheel isrotated and placed directly the levers 32 and 33 when alcove the latterl, when the lever 16 andthe '32, 33,`and below the neutral spacebetweeny the levers 19 and 20, so that as theleverl 'when the shaft 9 ierotated 4in an opgceite is moved upwardly to force one of the open atinelevers upwardly, it will always operate in the N space between levers 19and 20. None of the levers 18, 19, 20, 21, will he in the way of thegear shifting lever to be raised.

The lever 16 havingr been positioned heneath the lever 32, an thereleasing lever 18 over the elevated gear shifting lever 31, the clutchpedal 7 -is depressed Vto release the clutch when the releasing armsl18, 19, 20, 21 will be depressed by reason o the action of the cam 22upon the finger 23, and since the lever 18 has been positioned over thelever 31, it will force the lever 31 down to its normal neutral ositionvshown in Fig. 3, and inv full lines in gig 8, while the lever 30 willbe elevated to the same plane passing through levers 31, 32, 33 hyreason of the connections between the leversi30 and 31, namely, thesleeves 26 and 27, levers 35 and 43, operating rods 36 and 42, and thelevers 38 and 41.

It may be stated that all the gear shifting 4 levers 30, 31, 32, 33 arealways placed "ln this neutral position when the linger 23 has reachedthe limit of its movement when acted upon by the cam 22.

At about the timethe cam 22 has lilorced the linger 23 inwardly in adrectionindicated by thearrovv in Fig. 3, to its'limt df movement, thelever 18, together with theliieleasin lever will have been lowered toxtheir limiterdescent While the lever 16 is in engaging relationwth thelever 32. A further depression of the clutch' pedal results in acontinued elevation of the lever 16, but the' levers 13, 19, 20, 21remain stationary nce'the camshrface 22 can have no urthereilect uponthe finger 23. The

continued upward movement of the lever.

16 forces the lever .32 upwardly toa point just helow the .horizontal`plane levers 13, i9, 29,21, hat above the dorme neutral losition o thelevers 30, 31, 32, 33.

f The c ntch nodal 'l' may nowhareleased direction to that justindicated, an 'the lever 13 will he returned to its normalposin tionshown in llligs. 3 and 7, with thelevers 32' progected upwardly abovethe normal plane of the levers 30 'and 31 lont inet below the neutral orlll space between levers 19 -and 20. The lever 33 will he depressed,

since said lever is connected. to theV sleeve 29 which is operated hythe lever 55 integrally 'formed therewith, the rod 53, and the lever 51which is formed integral with the sleeve 50 that is in turn operated bythe lever.

49, since the lever 46 has been moved to the left in Fig. 3, through theconnecting rod 47, the sleeve 28 and the lever Levers 18, 19, 20, 21 arereturned to their normal positions through the action of the cam 2 2 andlinger 23.

above the lever 33.

vii

The shifting; of the gears for high speed is Adone in the same mannerashas just been described for the shitting orn the gears to intermediateor low, except that the lever 6-1 .is moved upon the quadrant to theletter` lll so that the lever 16 and 'the releasing levers 18, 19, Q0,21 are shi'tted along their respective shafts until the lever 16 standsbeneath the lever 33 and the space` designated N between the levers 19and Q0 are ilhen the clutch pedal is depressed, the lever 19 beinglocated above the lever 32, will be depressed since the cam 22 forcedthe lever 23 inwardly as indicated by the arrow when shaft 12 isoperated and .torce lever 32 Adowmvardly to its normal position as shownin 8, while the lever will be raised to its normal neutral position byreason ot the connections previously described. But a continueddepression of the clutch pedal 7 still further raises the lever 16 andlikewise lever 33, as lever` 16 is in engagementwith* lever 33, whilelever 32 is Idepressed by reason ot its connection withlever 33 ythroughthe following elements: lever 55. rod lever 51, sleeve 50, to the lever119, rod 17, lever 46, and sleeve 28.

As the lever S3 is just above the lever 16 and below the neutral spaceN, between levers 15 and 20, lever 16 forces lever 83 upwardly throughthe neutral space N. ln order to shift the gears to reverse position,the lever 64 is rotated'upon the quadrant Tl nntil it stands above theletter R, so that the lever 16 will be shifted beneath the ,gearshifting lever l or and the neutral space N beneath the levers 151 andS20. `v'l'fhen the clutch b v reason ot" the cani Z2 engaging'linger 28,forcing' the linger inwardly as indicated by the arrow in Fig'. 3, anddepressing the releasingr leversisothat the lever 21 which issul'liciently wide to be located above the lever 33 will engage the"said lever in its descent and force the 4lever back/into its neutralposition, while the lever 32 will be returned likewise to neutralposition by ifeason of the connection just described. n At about thetime the lever 23 has traveled its limit in the direction indicated bythe arrow, the lever 16 will engage the lever 3() and cause said leverto be elevated n on a continued depression'othe clutch pe al il, whilethe lever 31 will be depressed.

t is thought that it is unnecessary to repeat a description of the meansfor simultaneously operatingy these two levers so that one is depressedwhen the other is elevated. The clutch pedal is then released and theclutch is thrown in so that the lever 16 and the releasing?` levers18h19, 20, 21 will be returned to their normal positions shown `digs. 3and 7, with the reverse lever ele pedal is depressed,.- levers 18, 19,20, 21 will be depressed first vated above the levers 32 and 33. verselever is elevated, the lever 35 is moved rearwardly by reason of theconnectionof the rod 36, forcing the lever 38 rearwardly and therebymoving a shifter which forces the respective gear in the gear casing 40in its proper position for reversing the automobile.

"fvrhile l' have described a device which -will shift the gearsautomatically through the necessary operation of the clutch pedal, itwill be found that there' will be times when the device will fail toshift the as desired.l This happens when the machine is stopped whiletraveling by releasing:T the clutch and throwing in the brake beforeplane passing through the .shifting the lever 64 to properly set thegears for starting. Suppose. for instance, that the lever 16 had movedthe ever 33 upwardly so that the gears would be in bien and that theautomobile were stopped while these gears were shifted to this position:it would be impossible to start the machine b v throwing inthe clutchwhen the engine is running with the gears in hie-h and the automobile ata standstill. The engine would be stalled.

lt it were attempted to move the lever 64 to lo. speed indicated by thequadrant 64, the lever 16 ought to be placed beneath the lever 31 withthe neutral space designated N between the releasingr levers 19 and 20,above the lever 31. But it must be remembered that as long as themachine is standing still and the engine is running'. the clutch pedalstands depressed with the lever 16 engagingthe lover 33. while the lever32 would be depressed. Now. as has been stated. it it were attempted to`move the leverf to slide the lever 16 to a position beneath the lever31. the lever 32 beingr de4 ingr depressed. would interfere with theshifting of the lever .16, while the clutch is release/d. 18. 19. 20,and 21. cannot be shifted when the clutch is released. but the clutchmust be. in engagement so that the lever 16 may de-' pend freely belowthe shaft 9 and out ot position where it will not be interfered with byany one of the levers 30; 31. 32.

lt becomes necessary therefore to employ some other means to return thelevers 30. 31, 32, 83 to their normal neutral position. The shaft 58 isprovided with an auxiliary releasing lever 59 which is adapted to beshifted by means of a rod 60 through the connection 61 simultaneouslywith the lever 16, so that as the lever 16 is positioned below any oneof the levers 30, 31, 32, 33, lever A 59 will be positioned above thesame. ln thisv casethe lever 16 is positioned below and in engagementwith lever 83, while lever 59 is positioned above lever 33, since rod 66is moved transversely ofthe car by the gears V rlhe lever 64 as well aslevers 16.

lhen the lever 30 or returnedto its normalA position.

rod 63 which is connected to the rod 14. The lever 59 is provided with'a sleeve havinga squared opening through which` is inscvtedsa shaft 58,so that as the shaft 58 is rotated, the lever 59 is likewise rotated.

The spring 7 6, connected to the lever 55 and to the frame of thev car,tends to rotate the shaft in the direction indicated by the to releasethe catch 78, it will be necessaryr to-depress the thumb lever 89of.Fig. 18 to release'the locking rod 88 from the rod 66 so that whenthe lever 64 is then rotated, rod 66 rem ins idle `and only the sleeve86 is rotated, he lever 16 and levers 18, 19,

20, 21 also remaining idle on theirrcspective shafts. Since sleeve 86 isrotated, lever at the end of the,l steering post is operated, causingthe link' 80 to' be drawn inwardly until the enlargement 8 3 engages theend 81 ofthe latch 78 and trips the latch. The lever 64 must be movedtxfposition on the quadrantdesignated by Re, the release position. Thelever 64 may he returned to its former position when the spring 93 willforce the end'of the rod 88 back into the perforation 91' in the shaft66.

The clutch pedal being depressed and the clutch released, the levert 16isin engagement with the' lever 33. Since the lever 59 'engages thelever 33 and tends to depress the lever by reason of the pull of thespring 76, the clutch pedal' may be released without danger of stallinglthe engine. since at the beginning of the return movement the clutchpedal lever 59 will force the lever 33 downwardly `and the lever '32upwardly vinto their normal neutral positions, so vthat thereby placingall they gears in neutral. Leverl 64 having `been returned to its formerposition to permit the rod 88 to lock the shaft 66 inoperative relationwith lever 64, may now be rotated-so that it will lrest uponv theportion of the quadrant designated by L for low gear when the lever 16will be shifted on the shaft 9 directly below the lever 31, while theneutral space be tween the levers 19 and '20'will be above the lever31,/but at the same time,the lever 59 through its connections with therodlll, is shifted along the levers 33 and 32, and across'the' neutralspace N and .directly above the l'ever 31. When'the clutch pedal isdepressed and the clutch released, the

r is shifted, it will ,the lever 59 and its connected'mechanism,

ln order same, p

releasing lever which' is located upon the the releasing arms 18 and 19,instead of arm 16 :eiwill be elevated, engaging theieveri` 31a11d^causing,it to he elevated, thereby forcingtlever 59 up to itsnormal position when the latch 78 will 'engage the notch 79 pon the disk77 and maintain the lever- 59 in its elevated position. IVlfhile thelever 31 is elevated, the lever 30 is'depressed.

It will be readily seen that if the machine is accidentally sto pedbefore the lever 64 he possible, by means of to restore the levers toneutral position and then shift `the gears to the speed desired.

Ihe results achieved b v the modiication illustrated in Figs. 9 to 15,inclusive, are

illustrated by Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, and the oleration of both ispractically the ut instead of providing an auxiliary outside of theclutch or gear`casing,'as shown in Fig. 3, the auxiliary means requiredfor shifting the gears to neutral under extraordinary circumstances areall located witli` in the l gear casing 4. Instead of the sleeve 15being9located upon the extension of the clutch shaft 9, it is slidablymounted upon a. square cquntershaft 95, journaled in the gear casing 4and provided with -the operating levr 16. The shaft 12 is parallel tothel shaft 95 and is provided with the.

slidable sleeve 17 having,the-horizontallyextending arins 18, 19. 20.21,with the neu` tral space designated by N located' between' between 19and 2010i the other construction. A rod 96 connected to the volte 97`isprovided with a rack 98 which is engaged by the teeth of a pinion 99pivotally mounted within a bracket 100 and provided witha rigidoperating arm '101. The rod 68 is pivotally connected at one end withthe operating arm 101.*and at its other end to the lower 67 secur totherod 66 mounted l,Within the steering post 67", so that as thelevei` 64is rotated, the pinion 99 will be ifotatlad and operate the rack 98 toshift `the sleeves 15 and .17 to their various positions for changingthe gears. The shaft 95 has an upstandingarm' 102 connected to the,collar 103 secured upon the outerend '0f lthe shaft 95.

A rod 104 is connected at one end to the free end of the arm 102. theother end ofthe rod being connected to a lever integrally mounted uponor secured -to the clutch shaft so that as the clutch shaft is operated,the shaft 95 .will be sirnilarly and simultaneously rotated.n y

,The levers 30, 31, 32, 33 are respectivelyV inoiinted integrally withthe sleeves 10.5,"32?y unendingdownwardly from sleeves v106, 107,respectively, are the armsll, 111 no H Ithe same as those produced bythe device lll() to which are pivotallj7 connected, near their lowerends, rods 112, 113. A lever 114e is pivotally mounted at 115 upon abracket ..116 secured to the rear wall of the gear 'fi casingd. The rearend of the rod 11 is pivotally connected to one free end of the lever111i, while a rod 117 is pivotally connectedto the other tree end of theoscillating lever 114, the' inne end ot the rod 117 10 b'eing connectedto the depending` arm 118 mounted upon the sleeve 105. The 'rod 113 'isconnected to one ofthe outer free ends of the oscillating lever 110which is pivoted to a bracket 120 that is likewise secured to 1') therear end of the gear coin; `rlhe other free end oi the lever 119 ispivotallv connected to a rod 121, the other end ot the rod beingconnected to the lower end of a depending lever 122 which is integrallyconnected to the sleeve 108.

liever 110, when oscillated, is adapted to shift the collar 123 throughthe end 125i et the lever 100 engaging a fork 125 mount-ed upon thecollar 123. The collar 123 is rigidlyv mounted upon the rod or shifter126 and provided with a dependiiigyoke 127 adapted to engage agear andshift the same within the gear casing. The depending lever 1.11 likewiseengages a fork 128 integrallvv mounted upon a collar 129, the collarbeing rigidly mounted upon a rod or shifter 130 and carrying thedepending vvolte 131 so that when the lever 111 is oscillated theshifter rod 130 and the `volte 131 is shitted. moving a gear in the gearcasing.

The shaft 109`is provided with outstanding lugs 132, 133, 134, 135 whichproject through the respective slots out in the sleeves 105, 106, 107,108 and are adapted 4G to be engaged by the edges 136, 137, Fig. 10` ofthe slotted portions ot the sleeves, as the levers 30, 31, 32, 33 aremoved or the shaft 100 is moved. The lugsn132, 133, 1311, 135 replacelever 59 shown in Fig. 3 and are adapted to return the levers 30, 31,V32, 33 to their normal positions when the operator has stopped hismachine and failed to properly set his n'ear for starting.

The shaft 109 is caused to be rotated in the following manner A lever138, Figs. 11, 12 and 13, is secured -to the end ot an extension'of theshaft 109 which projectsoutwardly through the casing il., Through theperforated lower end 139 of the lever 133 is inserted a rod 140 ihaving' the enlargement 141 to prevent the rod 140 and the lever 138from becoming disconnected and at times'to engage the lever 138 tooperate said lever. A spring G0 142 connecctd to 'the lever 13S is alsoconnected to the Casing tlnerebyv tending to draw the lever 138rearwardly and rotate the shalt 109 in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 10. The rod 1110 is connec-ted to a lever dependingJ fromthe clutch Vthe lever '85 projecting outwardly from the,

shall; is operated simultaneously witl the rod 10dwliich operates theshaft 05 to returnfthe lever 138 to its normal vertical positionwhenever the lever engages the enlargement. 141 and the clz ch shat't isoperated. It will be seen by the loose connection between the lever 138and the rod 1407 that the lever 138 vmay be moved rearwardly by means ofthe spring without moving the rod 140, but said rod may readily returnthe lever 138 to its normal vertical position when the rod is opera edto the left ind-h cated by the arrow in Fig. 12, by the clutch shaft,but only when the enlargement 141 engages the lever 138. `The lever 138only e gages the enlargement 141 when the latch 113 has been releasedtrom the catch 1214, which projects from the collar or dish. 1h15rigidly mounted on the shaft 109, and the spring 148 is tree to rotatethe shaft 109 and lever 138.

The latch 1113 is rigidly mounted 'upon a shaft 14.6, which sha'lt isoperated through an arm lei-7 and rod 80 which connects with (lll sleeve86 that is mounted concentrically within the steering post G73 andoperated by the lever 64, when the lever is moved to the releaseposition on the quadrant 71 or theY steering wheel. y 95 The rod isadapted to be slidablv mounted in the lower end of the lever 111'? andis provided with an enlargement 1/18 adapted to engage the lever 147when the lever Gil on the steeringA wheel has heen 300 moved to a pointslightly bevond the reverse yposition indicated on the quadrant 'll sothat as the lever is moved to the release position, the latch1 143 willhave become disengaged from the catch 114-, to permit the 105 spring14:2 to rotate the shaft 105) and operate one'oi' the levers 30, 31, 32,33, and place it in its neutral position. A. spring 149 secured to theside or" the casing l and to the end of the depending lever 1417, tendsno to draw the lever 1117 rearwardlyT in order to maintain the latch1113 in constant engagement with the dish 145. The distance between thelever 147 and the enlargement 1118 represents the distance through whichthe lever 01 travels.-

rlhe operation of the modified forni is in every respect identical withthe operation of the device illustrated by Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, withthe exception' that the shaft 05 is a separate and distinct shaft andnot an eX- tension of the clutch shaft, but is operated by a rod 10-1connected to a lever 102 which is integjrall)v formed with the shait 05,the y other end on the rod101l being connected to 12" a. lever on thcclutch shaitl lllhile the mechanisms, including the rack 08 and thepinion 00 for shifting the sleeves and 1T on their rcs'=ective sliglniydiierent. "et it 9 is merely another Leases? i loria that mi ht beemployed for sliding the sleeves 15 an 17 on their respective shafts. ltis also seen that the neutral space design noted by N in Fig. 9 islocated between the fingers or levers 18 and 19, instead ol be tween thelevers 19 and 20, as disclosed in 3. rlhis Change nevertheless isuniniportant, since the neutral space may be located between anyadjacent pair of the levers as long as the operating lever 16 isdisposed below the neutral space in order that the lever 16 may elevateany of the levers 80, 31, 82, 33, inclusive, upwardly and through saidspace.

lt may be stated here that it is entirely unnecessary to employ separatereleasing levers such as 18, 19, 20, 21,but a plate may be used instead,which is provided with a slot or neutral space designatedas N, and theplate may be extended sullieiently to include any other levers whichwill give still dill'erent variations of speeds, ror additional leversmay be formed upon the sleeve 17 to take eare or any intermediate speedsthat are 'sometimes employed on au automobile. 1t will be unnecessary tofurther describe the operation or the relative position et 'the levers16, 18, 19, U, 21, and 30. 81., 32, 33, since it is thought. this lhasbeen 'fully described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8, in-L elusive gvnevertheless it may be stated that in 10, the lever 32 is shown in itsnormal neutral position. The location of lever QG describes thehorizontal inoperative position of the levers 18, 19, Q0, 21, while thelever 16 designates vthe nornial position oit' the tnoerating lever whenthe elutcli has been thrown in.

lleterrina to Fig. 10, il any one of the levers 80. 81. 82, 33,inclusive, has been previously elevated by the lever 1.6, by the releaseoli the clutch and the depression of the clutch pedal, the arm Q0 willdescend Iwhile the lever 16 aseends, but since the quick-acting cani 22operates the lever Q3 early in the revolution of the shaft 95, the lever2G will innuediately descend and posi tion the `lever 232 to its normalneutral posi-v tion ji'ist before the lever 16 is elevated to engage thelever 32." il. continued depression ot 'the Vclutch pedal torreleasing,y the clutehgvill cause the leverv 1G to continue its ascentand elevate the lever 3Q or any other lever that, may have beenahovethe.

lever 1G through the neutral space between levers 18 and 19,while'levers 18, 19. Q0, 21, inclusive, remain inactive. instead ofelnployingr a separate lever,- which is shifted simultaneously with therlever 16, a new structure has been ,designed for accomplishing' thesame purpose.

lt'- any one ot the levers 30, l1. 82, 33, have been elevated, say lever83, by the lever 1o', Fig. 20, and the automobile has been stopped, theClutch will have been released klatch 143 troni the notehllllla `andtheclutch pedal depressed, thereby re turning the lever 16 and the lever 18tothe position shown in Fig. 21.

ltmust be remembered to accomplish the proper results' that the lever 1Gand levers 18, 19, Q0, 21 should be shifted when the clutch has beenthrown in and the clutch pedal has been released, so that when theclutch is released and the pedal depressed, the lingers 18, 19, 20, Q1will be operated todepress any one ol the levers 3G, 31, 32, 5:38, whilethe lever 16 will be elevated to elevate any one ot the levers 30, 81,32, 33, corresponding to the speed desired and be neath which the lever16 has been located by the selective lever 64e `on the steering wheel.Otherwise, as stated. above, lever 33 would be operated between levers18 and 19, by the 1lever 16 instead ot being placed in vertiea 1 Now, ilany one of the levers 30, 31, 32,

"9 is lett in an elevated position when the vautomobile is stopped, suchas gear shift-I ing' lever 33, the clutch having' been re leased, itwill be impossible 'to shil't sleeves 15 and 1T to 'change the speedfrom high to low gear so that the automobile may properly be startedagain. lll the gears are still in high and the clutch is thrown in, theengine will be stalled for it is alwaysneoessary to change the speed tolow except in exceptional circumstances. Y

lf, as seen in Fig. 10, the erin 32 were elevated the edge 136 of theslot in the sleeve 107 would be in engagement with the lug 123.4. Now,it the thumb lever 89, shown in Fig. 18, were depressed, the looking rod88 would be relieved from its connection with the rod 66 so that whenthe lever 6e is rotated to released or Re position, the rod 66 would notbe operated, and therefore the collars 15 and 17 would not be shifted,but the sleeve 86 would be rotated by reason otite connection with thelever 64 and thereby operate the lever 85 secured to the end ot' thesleeve 86. The md would likewise be shifted forwardly while the lever Seis passing over the difierent letters H, l, ll,V l1. and lt on thequadrant ofthe steering wheel before the enlargement 148 would engagethe lever 147. lllhen the lever 6s will have passed the reverse posi-`tion shown on the quadrant 2'4 ol" the steeringf wheel, the enlargement148 would begin to pull upon the lever 147 and withdraw the When thishappens, the shaft 109 willbe rotated in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 10, and since the projection 13dis engaging with the edge1.36 of the slot within the sleeve 107, the lever 32 would be forceddownwardly and tend to force lever. 16 downwardly. lVhen the clutch isthrown in, lever 82 would be 'forced into itsnorxnal neutral position.

ASince all the gears are in neutral, the clutch being in has noel'ee'twhatever on .the eilteu mobile. Since all of these slots inth'edierent sleeves are in the same horizontal plane and all lugs 132,133, 134,, 135, are in the same horizontal plane, they will operate any'of the levers when they have been placed in their elevated position formoving the gears in the gear casing.

lt must be understoo however, that only two levers, that is 32 and 33,are operated 19 simultaneously but in opposite directions by the lugs134 and 135, for the reason that when the lever 32 is elevated, the edge136 of the groove in the sleeve 107 and the lug 134 are 1n engagement,while the edge 137 of the groove in t e sleeve 108 and the lug 135 arein engagement, but since these levers are so connected that they aresimultaneously operated, the operation of the lever 32 by means of thelug 134 of the spring-pressed 20 sha-ft 109 will also operate the lever33. Levers 30 and 31 are maintained in neutral position while lugs 132and 133 are operated in their respective slots but since these lugs arepositioned midway in the slots or the sleeves 105, 100, as shown in Fig.10, they can -bc operated in either direction while enga-ging the edges136 or 137.

lit will he necessary to employ some means to return the shaft 109 toits normal position so that it will always be ready to return any one olthe shafts 30, 3l, 32, 33, when necessary. This is accomplished by meansot' an arm 138 depending from the shaft 109 and connected by a rod 140to a lever projecting from the shaft 95. W hen the clutch pedal isreleased, the shaft 95 Will be rotated in the. direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 10, rotating the shaft 109 in the ren verse directionas indicated by the arrow in 40 xlig. l0, and causing the collar 145 tobe r0- ltated in the same manner and sutiiciently for the catch 1114 toslip beneath the latch 143 and lock the shaft in position. Theenlargement lll on the end of the rod 140 always engages the levers 138when the latch 1-1-3 has been sprung`l for the spring forces lever 13Srearwardly.

What is claimed iszl. In a gear changing mechanism for auto- 5 mobiles,a clutcl1,`means for operating the clutch, a pluralityot gear shiftinglevers normally holding the gears in neutral position. plurality of'gear releasing means for rrturning thc gear shifting levers to neutralposition, and means operable upon the re' lease ot the clutch foroperating one ot' the gear releasing means and the gear shitting levers.

Q. ln a gear changing mechanism Jfor automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch` a plurality of gear shifting levers normallyholding the gears in neutral position, a plurality ol gear releasingmeans for returning the gear shifting levers to neutral position, andmeans operable upon the remesser l l i lease of the clutch for operatinga member of the gear releasing means to move the gear sh1fting levers,to ret-urn a gear in operative position fto neutral position, and alever adapted to selectively operate one of the gear shifting levers foro eratively positioning another gear for enecuting a change in speed. y

3. In a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, the combination of aclutch, means for operating the Iclutch, a piurality of gear shiftinglevers normally holding the gears in neutral position, gear releasingmeans operable under certain conditions to return the gear shiftinglevers to neutrall position, auxiliary gear releasing means operableunder certain other conditions to return said levers to neutralposit-ion, and means actuated upon the release or the 'clutch foroperating the irst of said gear releasing means and the gear shiftinglevers, said irst gear releasing means being adapted to be actuatedduring a portion of the -time for operation of the actuating means.

4. In a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, the combination oi?1` aclutch, means for operating the clutch, a plurality of gear shiftinglevers normally holding the gears in neutral position, gear releasingmeans operable under certain conditions to return the gear shiftinglevers to neutral position, auxiliary gear releasing means operableunder certain other conditions to return said levers to neutralposition, and means actuated upon the release or the clutch foroperating the irst gear releasing means and the gear shitting levers,said first gear releasing means beingl actuated during the first partoir' the operation oi? said actuated means, the gear shifting leverheing operated during the rernainingiportion or" the operation o1 saidactuating means.

5. In a gear changing mechan'sm for au tomobiles, a clutch, means foropliprating the clutch, a plurality or gear shit-ing levers normallyholding the gears in naitral. Josition, a gear releasing meansorreturning the gear shifting levers to neutral position, and meansoperable upon the release et the clutch for .operatingl the gearreieasing means and the gear shifting levers, and en auxiliary releasingmeans for returning the gear shifting levers to neutral `position whenthe main releasing means fails to return said shifting levers to neutralposition.

(i.v In a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch, a plurality of gear-shifting levers normallyholding the gears in neutral position, a plurality ot gear releasingmeansl for returning the gear shifting levers to neutral position, 'andn.means operable upon the release of the clutch for operating one oi'the gearreleasing means, said gear-releas1ng means being provlded With aslot, and means il O 'Maenner for actuating the gear shifting levers, at

times adapted to oscillate in .sa-1u slot an between certain of the gearsluiting levers `when the ears are in neutral and the durch 'u L n is lI""I. ,In a gear changing-mechanism for auF tomobiles, a clutch, meansfor operating the clutch, a plurality of gear shifting levers normallyholding the gears in neutral position, a plurality of gear releasingmeans for returnin the gear shifting levers to neutral "position, one ofsaid gear releasing means beiiig automatically operable, means operableupon the release of the clutch i'or operating the ,gear shifting levers,and means for selectively positioning tlie operating means for tlie gearsluiting vlevers in operative relation With a gear shifting lever.'

86' In a gear changing mechanism `for autombiles, a clutch, means foroperatingthe clutch, a plurality of gear shifting levers normallyholding the gears in neutral position,a gear releasing means forreturning the gear shifting levers to neutral position', said gearreleasing means being operable upon the release of the clutch, meansopera* ble upon the release of tlie olutoli 'for aetuatlill.

levers, means lor selectively positioning tlie operating means for tliegear shifting levers `in operative relatiomwitli a gear shifting lever,an auxiliary gear releasing means for returning tlie gear sluitinglevers when tlie main releasing means fails to move said shifting leversto neutral position, and means connected to the selective positioningmeans for operating the auxiliary gear releasing means.

11. ln a gear changingv mechanism for automobiles, a olutoli, nieansvforoperating the clutoli, a plurality oi' gear shifting levers normallyliolciing the gears in neutral position,l a gear releasing means forreturning the gear shifting levers to neutral position, operable uponthel release of tlie clutch, megane operated upon the release of theclutch g for actuating the gear shifting levers, means ing tlie gearshifting levers, means for se-v lectively positioning the operatingmeans for the gear relation with a gear sluiting lever, and an auxiliarygear releasing means for returning the gear shifting levers to neutralposi tion When said main releasing' means fails to returnsaid shiftinglevers to neutral position.

9. In a gear changing mechanism for au tomobiles, a Clutch, means foroperating tlie clutch, a plurality of. gear shifting levers normallyholding the gears in neutral position, a gear releasing means forreturning the gear shifting levers to neutral position, said gearreleasin means being 'operable upon the release o tlie olutoii, meansactushifting levers in. operativeated upon the release of the olulelalor oper` ating the gear sluiting levers,-rneaiis lor se-` leotivelypositioning .the .operating means for the gear shifting levers inoperative relation with: a gear shifting lever, anti an automatic,auxiliary gear releasing means for the gear shifting levers, saidauxiliary gear releasinw means adapteii to loe simultaneously slii 'tedwith the operating means for the gearshifting levers.

10. In a gear changing mechanism for au tomobiles, 'a clutch, means foroperating the clutch, a plurality oi gear' shifting levers normallyholding the gears in new tial position, a gear releasing means ierreturning the gear shifting levers to neutral position, operable uponrlie releaseI of the clutch, means operated upon 'the release or' theelutcli fer actuating the gear shifting for selectively positioning theoperating means for the gear sluiting levers in operative relation witha gear shifting lever, an auxiliary gear releasing'means for the gearshifting levers, means conneotecl to tlie selectivo positioning meansfor operating the auxiliary gear releasing means, and means fordisengaging tlie selective means from the operazing means for theauxiliary gear releasing means.

l2. ln a gear changing mechanism ler automobiles, a olutcli, means 'foroperating the clutch, a vplurality oi gear sluiting levers normallyliolfiing the gears in neutral position, a gear releasing means forreturning tlie gear shifting levers to neutral posi tion, operable upontlie release of the elutoli, means operated upon tlie release or tlmcluteli for actuating the gear shifting levers, means for selectivelypositioning tli'e operating means for tli'e. gear shifting levers inoperative relation with a gear shifting lever, an auxiliary gearreleasing means for tlie gear shifting levers, and` means forselectively positioning simultaneously sairl gear releasing means, tlieauxiliary gear releasing means, andL the operating means for the gearsluiting levers.

i3. ln a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a Clutch, means foroperating the oluteli, a plurality oi gear shifting levers normallyholding the gears in neutral position, a gear releasing means iorreturnthe gear sluiting levers, ami means for seleotively positioningsimultaneously said gear releasing ineens, Atlie auxiliary gearreleasing` means, and tlie operating means for the gear operable uponshifting levers, said selective positioning means being` provided withmeans for opcratinf the auxiliary gear releasing means.

le. .in a, gear changing mechanism for automobiles, the combination of aclutch, means for operating the clutch, a plurality of gear shiftinglevers normally holding tlie Xscars in neutral position, gear releasing,means operatecl upon the release o the clutch for returning the gearshifting levers to neutral position, auxiliary gear releasing meansoperable under other conditions to return the gear shifting levers toneutral position, means for selectively positioning the operating meansfor the gear shifting levers in operative relation ,therevvitlu andmeans for causing the ,gear releasing means to return e gear shittinglever to neutra-l position in advance oit another shifting lever beine'move@` to uear shiictinT osition.

*ta P b I 1b. in a .Gear chano'ino inecnaiiism for o b a automoliiles, aclutch, means for operating the clutch, a l rality of gear shiftinglevers normally. hole e; the gears in neutral position, a pluralityoireleasing means ttor returning the shifting levers to neutralposition, one of saicl gear releasing,r means being automaticallyoperable for actuating the gear shifting levers, and means forselectively positioningF the 'operating means vtor the. sluiting leversin operative relation 'with a gear shiitinp; lever, saicl automatically.operated gear releasing means and tlie operating means for trie gearshifting levers being :iovalile toward eacli other for oscillating thegear shifting levers.`

16, ln changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means for operatingAthe clutch, a piuralitj,7 Vof gear shifting;r levers normally holding),the gears in neutral position, a gear releasing means 'for returning theshitting; levers to neutral position, the. release,` of the clutch,means operatori upon the release of the clutcli for actuating' the geurshifting levers, means for selectively positioiiinn the operat- 1 ing'means for the gear, shifting levers in operatfive relation with a gearshifting lever, antl'a spring-pressed snat't carryingan auX- iliary gearreleasingT means Jfor returning the gear shifting' levers to neutralposition, the operative means *for the gear shifting levers rotatingFthe shaft in one direction against the action of the spring'.

l?. ln' a gear changing .mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch, a plurality of gear shifting levers normallyvholding the rgears in neutral position, a gear releasing means forreturning the gear shitting levers to neutral position, operable uponthe release of the. clutch, means operated upon the release of theolutcli for actua-ing the gear shifting levers, n'ieans for selectivelypositioning the operat ,uuging the latch from the shalt to permit thespring to rotate the shaft. i

8 ln a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch. a plurality of gear shifting levers normallyholding the gears in neutral position, a-gear releasing means forreturning the gear shifting levers to neutral position,

operable upon the release of the clutch, I

means operated upon the release of the clutch for actuating the gearshiftingr levers, means for selectivelyr positioning trie operatingmeans for the gear sliiftiiie levers in' operative relation with a gearshirting lever, and an auxiliary gear releasing` means for the. ,e'earshifting levers, saicl selective posi-l tioningl means being providedwith means for causing the auxiliary gear releasing means to he set inmotion.

19. lira gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch, a plurality of gear shifting levers normallyholding tlie gears in neutral i)osition, a gear releasing means 'forreturning the gear shifting levers to neutral position,

operable upon the release of the clutch, means operated upon the releaseof the clutch for actuating the gear shifting levers, means forselectively positioningl they operating means Jfor the gear shiftinglevers in operative relation with e gear shitting lever, and anauxiliary gear releasing means for the gear'shiting levers, saidselective posi; tioning means being provided with means for operatingthe auxiliary'gear releasing means, the operation ofthe auxiliary gearreleasingx means being elective beyond the limits or" operation of theselectivepositioning means. Y

' '20. ln a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch. a plurality ot gear shifting levers inormallyholding the' gears in neutral position, a gear releasing meansfor returning the gear shiftiniY levers to neutral position, saicl gearreleasing means operated upon the release of the clutclifor actuatingthe gear shifting levers, means -lor selectively positioning theoperatingr means for.

the gear shifting levers in operative relation with a gear shiftinglever, and an auxiliary gear releasing means for the gear shiftinglevers, saisi selective positioning lmeans liein@M provided with meansfor causing actu-- Lesesaal ation of-the auxiliary gear releasing means,the operationof the auxiliary gear releasing means being effectivebeyond the limits of operation of the selective positioning means.

21T In a gear changing mechanism for au-` tomobiles, a clutch, a shaft,a clutch pedal for Arocking the shaft and operating the clutch, aplurality of oscillating levers having connections with the gearShifters, a lever on the shaft operable upon the release of the clutchfor operating the oscillating levers, `and a countersliaft connectedinoperative. relation `with the first-mentioned shaft and provided With areleasing means. forreturning the oscillating levers to normal positionand likewise the gears to neutral position, said counteishaft adapted toren'min idle duri/ng` a portion of the rocking movement of thehist-mentioned shaft.

` 22. ln a gear changjmeT mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, ashaft, aclutch pedal for rocking the shaft and operating the clutch, a pluralityof oscillating levers hav- 'ing connections with the ,gear Shifters forreturning said Shifters to neutral po tion, a lever on the shaftoperable upon the release of theclutch for operating the oscillatingllevers, a conntersliaft provided with a releasing means for returningthe oscillating ,leversr to normal position and likewise the gearstoneutral position, and a rock shaft provided with an auxiliary releasingmeans for oscillating; the levers when the `main releasing means failsto return the gear shifters to neutral pesi-tion.

23. ln a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, a shaft. aclutch pedal for rocking thev shaft and operating the clutch, aplurality' of spaced oscillating levers having connections with .thegear Shifters, a lever on the shaft operable upon the release of theclutch for operating the oscillating levers, a countershaftopcriativel;v connected with the tiret-,mentioned shaft androvideclivitlia.releasing means for returnlng 'the oscillating levers tonormal position v and likewise the ggearsrto neutral position during thefirst 'part o, the rocking movement of the first-mentioned shaft, the oerating lever for the oscillating levers a apted to be moved betweencertain of ,the oscillat-I ine levers wherrlhe 2f rearsare inneutralgrluix/ I ing the last part of the rockinginovemeiit of the,first-mentioned shaft.

24. in' a gear changing; mechanism for au -Q tomobiles, a clutch, ashaft. a clutch pedal for rocking theshaft and operating` thel clutch, apluralityY of oscillating levers having connections with the gearShifters, a lever on the shaft operable upon the release of the clutchfor operating the oscillating levers, a eountersliaft provided with areleasing means for returning: the oscillating levers to normal positionand likewise the `the clutch, including; a shaft pluralitytof gears toneutral position, said releasing means andoperatino' means forl theoscillating levers being adapted to be moved toward each other when theclutch is being releaseihtlie releasing means returning the oscillating:levers to neutral position, the operating means moving one of theoscillating levers to a gea-r changing position, and an auxiliaryreleasing means adapted to return an oscillating; lever to normalposition when 'the main releasing means is operated without engagingsaid levers,

25'. ln a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, a. shaft, aclutch pedal for: reciting the shaft and operating the clutch,v nplurality of oscillatin'r levers havingk connections with the gear siifters, a lever on the shaft operable upon the release of the clutchfor operating the oscillating levers, a countershaft provided with areleasing Vmeans for returning the oscillating levers to normal positionand likewise the gears to neutral position, an auxiliary releasing meansfor returning an oscillating lever to normal position that has not beenmoved 'when the main releasing means has been operated, and means forsimultaneously shifting the releasing means in position to return anoscillating lever to neutral position, vand the 'operating lever on theshaft in selective positionto move another oscillating lever out ofneutral osition.

Q6. ln a gear changingr` mec anisin for automobiles, a clutch., a rochshaft, a clutch pedal for rocking the shaft and operatingY the clutch, aplurality of oseillatingg` levers having connections with the gearShifters, a lever on the shaft operable upon. the release of the clutchfor operating; the oscillatii'igF levers, and a` countershaft providedwith a releasing means for` returning the oscillating levers to normalposition and likewise the gears to neutrahposition, the releasing meansand the` operating lever on the shaft losing; moved consecutively uponthe release of the clutch, and means operatively connecting the shaftsand providing an internn'itient rotation oi the countershaft.

$27, ln a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating and a pedal, a gear releasing levers mounted upon acountershaft, a lever mounted on the clutch shaft, the releasing,rlevers and the clutch shaft lever being sliclably mounted on their`respective shafts and adapted to be shifted simultaneously from thesteering.

Wheel in operative positions relative to cer .tain of a plurality oflevers rotatably mounted and normally in alinenient when all thegrearsare in neutral., said ro'tatahly mounted levers selectivelycontrolling,r the shifting" of the gears, one of the levers dapted tohelnovecl out of alinement to shift a gear when the clutch is released.,and to he lilll returned to normal position by the releasing levers forreturning the gears to neutral position, and an auxiliary gear releasingmeans adapted to be simultaneously shifted with the lever on the clutchshaft and in position to normally return that one of the gearcontrolling levers which the lever on the clutch shaft has placed ingear shifting position. i

28. ln a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, a shaft, aclutch pedal for rocking the shaft and operating the clutch, a pluralityof oscillating levers having connection with the gear Shifters, adepending lever on the clutch shaft adapted to operate the oscillatinglevers, a countershaft provided with a releasing means for returning thelevers to normal position and likewise the feais to neutral position, acam on the clutclzi shaft engaging a finger on the countershaft andadapted to cause the releasing means to return the oscillating leversdurin a portion of the movement of the clutch snift when the clutch isbeing released. i

2S). ln a gear changing mechanism forl automobiles, a' clutch, a shaft,a clutch pedal for rocking the shaft' and operating the.

clutch, a plurality of oscillating levers having connection with thegear Shifters in the gear casing, independing lever on the clutch shaftadapted to operate the oscillating levers, a countershaft provided witha releasing means for returning the levers to normal position andlikewise the gears to neutral position, a cam on the` clutch shaftenagaging a finger on the countershaft and adapted to cause thereleasing means to return the oscillating levers during a portion of themovement of the clutch shaft when the clutch is being released, duringthe re-' mainder of the movement of the clutch releasing means, thefinger and cam being adapted to maintain the releasing means for theoscillating levers in an inoperative position While the depending leverforces another oscillating lever to move a gear shifter.

4 30. In al gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, a shaft,a clutch pedal for rocking the shaft and operating the clutch, aplurality of oscillating levers having connection with the gearShifters, a

depending lever on the clutch shaft adapted to operate the oscillatinglevers, a counter- .shaft provided with a releasing means for returningthe levers to normal position and likewise the gears to neutralposition, a cam on the clutch shaft enga-ging a finger on thecountershaft and adapted to cause the releasing means to return theoscillating levers during a portion of the movement of the clutch shaftwhen `the clutch is being released, and means to cause the finger andcam to constantly engage each other and rotate the coiintershaft in onedirection.

31. ln a gear'. changingc mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, a shaft,a clutch pedal for rocking the Ishaft and operating the clutch, aplurality of oscillating levers having f connection with the gearShifters', a depending lever on the clutch shaft 'adaptedl to 'operatethe oscillating levers, `a countershaft vprovided with a releasing meansfor returning the levers to normal position and likewise the gears toneutral position, a cam on the clutch shaft engaging a finger on thecounter shaft and adapted to cause the releasing means to return theoscillating' levers during a portion of the movement of the clutch shaftwhen the clutch is being released, and an auxiliary releasing meansurginglthe releasing means into engagement With one of the oscillatinglevers, means restraining movement of the releasing means and meansoperating from the steering wheel of an automobile for releasing therestraining means.

32. A gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch, a plurality of', gearA shifting levers normallyholding the 'gears in neutral position, means operated by the clutch formoving the shifting levers to gear shifting position, a gear releasingmeans for returning the gear shifting leversto neutral position, andmeans operable upon the release of the clutch for operating the gearreleasing means and /the means for moving the gear shifting levers, saidgear releasing means having avariable movement relative to the meansvfor moving the gear shifting levers.

In a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, means foroperatingl the clutch, a lurality of gearshifting levers, means or'operating the gear shifting levers to gear changing position, means forreturningthe gear shifting levers to neutral position, means forselectively positioning the operating means for the gear `shiftinglevers, and an auxiliary gear re- |leasing means for the gear shiftinglevers {'resiliently held in inoperativeposition adapted to be'trippedyfor returningr the gear shifting lever placed in gear changingpositionto neutral position.

34. In a gear changing mechanism for automobiles, a clutch, meansfor'operating the clutch, a pluralitynof gear shifting levers, means foroperating the gear shiftingr levers to gear changing position, means forreturning' the gear shifting levers to neutral position, means forselectively positioning the operating means for the gear shiftinglevers, and an auxiliarygear releasing means for the gearing shiftinglevers resiliently held in inoperative position adapted to be trippedfor returning the gear shifting lever placed in gear changing position,said auxiliary gear releasing means adapted to be returned to normalposition

